Naming of the Capital
By 1913, the Government had a site and a plan for the National Capital but the Capital had yet to be officially named.
The Government had called for suggestions. Many idealistic and satirical contributions came from people who were still sceptical about the need for a new National Capital and whether it would ever be built.
On 12 March 1913 at an official ceremony on Capital Hill, Lady Denman, the wife of the Governor-General of Australia, exclaimed in a clear voice "I name the Capital of Australia, Canberra".
This was the existing name of the district since the early days of European settlement.
It is believed to be of Aboriginal origin and is said to mean 'meeting place'. When settlers arrived to farm the isolated Limestone Plains in the 1820s they called the place 'Kamberry' and 'Canberry'. This may have been their pronunciation of the Aboriginal word 'Corroboree' which describes a meeting of people for a ceremonial dance. The indigenous inhabitants of the area are the Ngunnawal who lived and hunted in the area for thousands of years.
Many speeches were made that day in 1913 on Capital Hill.
The Governor-General, Sir Thomas Denman said: "Here a city may arise where those responsible for the government of this country in the future may seek and find inspiration in its noble buildings, its broad avenues, its shaded parks and sheltered gardens - a city bearing perhaps some resemblance to the city beautiful of our dreams".
The Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher said: "The wrangle about the home of the government of Australia is over. The city is to be built, and the Commonwealth will build it. I believe all parties desire to make it worthy of the country and nation we belong to... I hope this city will be the seat of learning as well as of politics, and it will also be the home of art".
At the site of the commencement column three foundation stones were tapped into place by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Home Affairs, King O'Malley (an American by birth). Guns boomed, dogs barked, horses shied and people cheered before the official party retired to a large marquee to eat and toast the day's events.
The foundation stone and base of the commencement column (it was never completed) can be seen today on the lawn on Capital Hill in front of Australia's Parliament House.